The State of Illinois TAP Exam for Illinois Educators Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Development

Preparation is the Key to Success “What I do is prepare myself until I know I can do what I have to do.”- Joe Namath “If you’re not prepared, it’s not pressure you feel, it’s fear.” – Bruce Bochy “Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” – Henry Ford

Table of Contents Strategic Preparation Physical Preparation Emotional Preparation

The Difference Between the Basic Skills Test and TAP SkillFrequency Inference: “Given the following information, what can you conclude, infer, deduce…” 10 Organization : Major Topics of the Selection 8 Vocabulary Words and Expressions8 Logic: Fallacies, bias, warrants, author credibility, cause/effect, similarities 6 Organization :Main idea of the selection or paragraph 4 Organization :Supporting details4 Organization: Sequencing of ideas3 Author’s purpose3 Opinion vs Fact3 Word Choice2 Capitalization, introduction techniques1 each

Preparing Yourself Strategically Most readers are not flexible; they read everything the same way. The reading comprehension portion of TAP requires the ability to comprehend challenging material and,therefore, can not be read in the same way you would read a novel or a magazine article.

How to Use the Laminate Sheets 1. As you preview the questions, on your laminated sheet, write the number of the question and a brief description of the task. Failure to do this will often result in an inability to remember the questions as you read. Previewing the questions may be done by clicking the “next” command in the lower right-hand corner of your computer screen. To return to the first question, click the “previous” command in the lower left-hand corner of your computer screen. 2. After previewing the text by reading the title, introduction, conclusion, and topic sentences, you are ready to read the entire selection. Using your laminated sheet, take notes by graphically organizing the content of selection. Failure to take notes will often result in an inability to comprehend what you have read. The ability to see the connections between ideas is imperative; simply reading the words is inadequate. 3. Alternate between the laminated sheet, the actual text, and the questions to determine the most appropriate responses. Fortunately, the selection will always remain to the left of your screen; no more flipping through pages!

Preparation Strategically:Using the Author’s Signs and Symbols Be aware of the author’s use of numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), letters (a,b,c, etc.), or words and phrases indicating sequence, enumeration, or relative importance (first,next, finally, before). Be aware of the author’s use of typographic abnormalities such as bold face, italic, or any other unusual font; boxes; small or large print; indentations; or color changes. All of these are requests to the reader to take special note of the content. Be aware of transition words of all sorts: forward signals (furthermore, in the same way, additionally), counter signals (contrastingly, nevertheless, on the contrary), summary signals (therefore, consequently, thus) and terminal signals (as a result, finally, in conclusion). Be aware of words that are repeated or their synonyms – particularly in the introduction and the conclusion.

Just a Word about Building Vocabulary The use of contextual aids and familiarity with affixes and roots are two aids for promoting word growth. Many times when reading the selection, you may be tempted to skip unfamiliar words. If done too often, this may affect your comprehension.

Vocabulary: Contextual Aids Determining Word Meaning through Context DefinitionExampleContrastInference

Vocabulary:Context Clues –Definition:Formal definition: Horology is the science of measuring time. –Definition:Indirect definition: Hypochondria, excessive worry over one’s health, afflicts many Americans over the age of forty. –Example: Toxic materials, such as, arsenic, asbestos, pesticides, and lead can cause permanent bodily damage. –Contrast: During the concert the audience was quiet, but afterward the crowd became boisterous. –Inference: My father is a versatile man: he is a successful business man, sportsman, author, and sports car mechanic.

Vocabulary :Affixes and Roots By utilizing your knowledge of common prefixes, roots, and suffixes sometimes you are able to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word. For example, look at the word “ biography”. “bio” = “life” “graph” = write Biography means, literally, to write about life.

Preparation:Physical Get plenty of sleep. Practice relaxation. Breathe Dress in layers. Eat well: Fresh fruit and vegetables help reduce stress; caffeine, sugar, and junk food aggravate the situation. Have your picture-ID with your signature. Relieve the monotony of the reading comprehension test and improve your concentration by interspersing it with other portions of the exam. If the reading exam is the only one you are taking, take a break after every third selection.

Preparation: Emotional Maintain a positive attitude. Get acquainted with the test by visiting the state of Illinois website for sample reading passages, questions, and answers. Simulate the testing environment. Ask questions of others who have taken the exam or faculty members, but try to avoid excessive negative, counter-productive chatter. Utilize good luck charms or any other token that helps you to be confident. Remember some anxiety is helpful- a little bit of nervousness will keep you alert. Accept this as natural and helpful.

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